No, it is not the owing-only-a-toothbrush (post 9/11, a passport as well) kind of minimalism that makes Jack Reacher the “free” man that he is.
Jack Reacher’s minimalism is all in the mind. His is a lean and Iight mind—lacking fears and inhibitions, devoid of biases, unattached to stuff, and rooted in the present moment.
Reacher’s minimalist mind is why he is so deadly effective both at coming up with solutions and decimating foes. His minimalist mind is the reason why he can break up with someone and move on without a scar. And it is his minimalist mind that makes him a person who eases and simplifies life for people who flit into his life.
The Jack-Reacher kind of minimalism makes perfect sense if you want to live a stress-free life. Care to practice it?
Being in the moment.
Reacher does not wallow in the past. Nor does he sigh wistfully as he imagines an unknown future. He is a man who lives in and for the present moment. He is a man who is mindful of what’s going on around him.
He is hyper-aware of the present moment. In a bustling neighborhood, he notices the shadow that melts into an alley. In a noisy street, he hears the tiny click of the safety catch of a gun being released. In a fight, he detects the exact moment when the person in front of him balls his fists before hitting out.
Being present in the moment not only lets Reacher use his five senses to the hilt but also gives him a mental advantage.
Being mindful lets him detect the subtlest emotion that flits over a person’s face as they speak. Being in the moment lets him detect the briefest pause that creeps up during a conversation. Being present lets him detect the tiniest change in tone as a person speaks. He not only listens to the words being spoken but is also aware of how the words are being said and what’s not being said. Being mindful makes Reacher an attentive listener.
Reacher may come across as an anti-social being, but he is the one who will get you and understand where you are coming from. He may come across as a gruff individual, but he is the one who has a grasp of the nuances of interpersonal dynamics.
Not harboring expectations from anybody.
Not expecting anything from anybody frees you up in more ways than one.
People will talk, react, and respond to you in ways that seem right to them. They will walk away when you need them the most. They will judge you when all you need is someone who will listen to you. They will not help you even when you are on the brink of breaking down. You can mope, moan, crib, and grumble about how you were “wronged.”
Or you can carry on plodding your way through life without a word.
You can carry on being the self-sufficient and resilient person that you are and then get stronger and better at the game.
When you let go of expectations from life and accept that no one owes you anything, you also free those around you. Nobody has to tiptoe on eggshells when you are around them. Nobody feels they have to bend over backward to accommodate you. You do not judge. You do not demand. You do not criticize. Everyone is free to be themselves when they are with you.
Detached, not indifferent.
“I was in the machine. My whole life. Then the machine coughed and spat me out. So I thought, OK, if I’m out, I’m out. All the way out. I was a little angry and it was probably an immature reaction. But I got used to it.”
This is how Jack Reacher describes his career in the army in One Shot. Do you sense the total acceptance in his voice?
He served the military honorably. He would have climbed up the ranks. But he felt he was not needed anymore. And that is perfectly okay with him.
Because he does not expect the world to tow his line or back his ideas and wishes, Reacher can remain detached from people and other entities. What is more, he is also detached from outcomes.
He only has a meager army pension to get by, but he is not the least worried about he will manage to go about his life. When he runs short of cash, he works odd jobs. When he has money in hand, he quits work to travel. He is not worried about old age. He is not anxious that people are put off by his non-conformist life and shy away from interacting and bonding with him.
It is this detachment that gives Reacher his invincibility. He cannot be led astray from his path and purpose by other people’s opinions. He cannot be broken by unreciprocated emotions. He is not swayed by attention or flattery. He is immune to heartbreak, betrayal, hostility, and grief.
But don’t mistake Reacher’s detachment for indifference.
Reacher may be detached, but he is not indifferent. He has his morals and ethics firmly in place. He may seem almost super-human in his physical prowess and otherworldly in his temperament, but he is not inhuman. These words from Nothing to Lose sum up Reacher’s motto in life:
“A person less fortunate than yourself deserves the best you can give. Because of duty, and honor, and service.”
Reacher stands up and fights for the underdogs without expecting rewards or returns. He rights wrongs, fixes corrupt systems, and bashes up baddies. And while he is going about his business, he manages to hook up with a beautiful female ally. After the dust settles and justice is serviced, Reacher walks away without taking anything with him.
Detached compassion is a rare quality. When you have no ego to trip you or no hankering for approval, you can do what is right and fair for the greatest number of people.
Marching to your own drum.
“I worked thirteen years, got me nowhere. I feel like I tried it their way, and to hell with them. Now I’m going to try it my way.”
In Killing Floor, Reacher sums up, with his usual economy of words, the reason for his off-beat lifestyle. And by deciding to try to live life in his way, he is simplifying his life and saving himself umpteen headaches and stresses.
When you are marching to your own drum, you don’t have to worry about pleasing others. You don’t have to constantly wonder if you are following the orders right. You don’t have to make painful choices. And most importantly, you don’t have to trim yourself or hack at your dreams to fit into the agenda and motives of others.
Marching to your own drum is a truly minimalist way of living. There is only one way to go—your way.
Jack Reacher’s frugal way of thinking, relating with, and navigating the world makes him extremely efficient. His minimalist mind lets him exercise his mental capacities to the fullest. That’s why he is a loyal and strong ally and a formidable foe.
firedupneurons.com 